Wine Details

Wine Description

(2009 Vintage) Aromas of blackberry, cocoa, and currant lead to a rich, layered mouthfeel, replete with black cherry, cedar, and cassis, and structured with lush, mature tannins. Enjoy this seductive cabernet sauvignon now and over the next several years.

(2006 Vintage) 6% Merlot; 2% Petit Verdot. A touch of brown leaf invades the ripe, somewhat curranty, mostly black cherry fruit that occupies center stage in this full-bodied but fairly ordinary bottling. It has a bit of suppleness to its credit at entry but gives it up to green and tannic narrowness at the finish.

Appellation America

(2003 Vintage) Winery founder Rodney D. Strong was born in 1927 during Prohibition. Before making wine, he was a professional dancer. Career highlights include dancing with Martha Graham and George Ballanchine at the American School of Ballet, and performing as the lead dancer at the Lido in Paris. While in Paris, he discovered the appreciation for the sensual pleasures of wine and food that are not yet a normal part of American life. Knowing that a career in dancing would only last so long, he decided to pursue wine as his Act Two. This wine is opaque ruby and viscous with notes of burnt wood, tar, underbrush, rubber, read more...cassis, blueberry, hearth, caramelized onions, and pipe smoke. It is rich, with a sweet burst of bright berry fruit and chewy tannins. Tannins give grip and a bit of bite on the finish so age or aerate before serving. This is the kind of wine that is delicious with hearty dishes such as grilled beef tenderloin with this Cabernet as the base of the sauce, braised oxtail with carrots and onions, or a Brie and wild mushroom fondue. (hide)

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines

(2003 Vintage) In terms of overall weight and essential Cabernet structure, this ripe and full-bodied working is on the right track. Its tentative fruit, however, is none too plentiful and it is a little too tough for its own good. Give it a couple of years of age, but do not expect dramatic growth.